[Kzyxtalk] KZY-Exit

[Scott Peterson]

Dear Mary,

I agree with your assessment. But not with your recommendation.

Tim Gregory should be encouraged to speak out here. Bad language,

ad hominem attacks and all. As an bonafide representative. Of the

current regime at MCPB. The same privilege should be extended to

Jeff Blankfort, Gordon Black, Liz Helenchild (aka Late Night Liz & Bessie 

Mae Mucho). And those who are too ashamed to use any name at all. 

Like 'SM'.

It's pretty obvious to this reader that KZYXTalk is monitored. By not

only the current regime. But by others as well. Including the CPB.

At the same time, folks like Tim Gregory should be drawn out. For any 

facts at their disposal. To show us all how the current regime _can_ 

continue. It begins and ends with money. Particularly with a decision to 

hire a psychologically disabled chat room supervisor to run Mendocino

County's only high power public broadcasting station. When the cookie

jar was full. $350,000 is a lot of cash. The regime neglected to manage

their new hire. And trusted him instead. Losing ninety-seven percent of 

MCPB's net assets over the next eight years. Now there's only about 

$10,000 left. The chat room supervisor took a powder last year. Only to 

be replaced by an unaccredited junior college teacher. Who -- like his 

predecessor -- can't seem to count. And is now serving as MCPB's 

treasurer.

The current GM is a self-proclaimed grant writer. Who worked at

KIXE public television in Redding until 2013. Why? Look at KIXE's

Form 990s. Grants there averaged six figures. For a while. Then

they tanked. To zero. For three years running. Right before taking a

job here:

http://nccsweb.urban.org/communityplatform/nccs/organization/profile/id/941569300/popup/1

It's not John Coate's fault. Or Stuart Campbell's. Or Lorraine Dechter's.

They're doing the best they can. With what they have available. And 

doing their level best. To keep their jobs. For as long as possible.

It's equally plain that MCPB's decision-making has been heavily

influenced by lawyers. Including Philip Tymon, Eliane Herring and

David Hopmann. At a heavy cost. It's not their fault either. They've

all got marching orders to take. And interests to serve. Definitely

along the lines of the NPR model. And syndicated radio. Much like

Clear Channel.

How'd they do it? It's easy. Community programmers were driven out.

Especially those who've dared to challenge the NPR model. And what's

left are the weak. Paving the way for their own demise. In full sun.

Using their own names.

It's equally important to empathize with people like Tim Gregory. He's

at the very apex of his career. Same for Bessie Mae, Jeff and Gordon.

Their shows are everything to them. It's a hostage situation. With a 

form of 'Stockholm Syndrome' in play. So lets 's kind to the hostages. 

By reminding them of their situation. With fact.

If MCPB had honored its programming manual, these people might

have somewhere to go. Their shows could have been syndicated. But

that didn't happen. Their shows could have been improved too. With

the personnel manual. Through evaluations. That didn't happen either.

When MCPB finally comes crashing down, they'll find themselves in 

very uncomfortable positions. Looking for positions with the same

programmers they've been excoriating. In public. Most of them using 

their own names.

There's another thing to keep in mind here. It's called a 'qui tam'

lawsuit. Anybody can sue the recipient of government funds for fraud,

waste and/or abuse. And recover a percentage. MCPB has received

over a million dollars in taxpayer funds with audits that never existed.

And with policies expressly forbidden by the CPB. Like hiding Form

990s. And governing documents. The percentage is 15-25% of what's

recovered:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qui_tam

So that's $150,000 to 250,000+ so far. But wait. There's more. Under 

the False Claims Act, offenders can be liable for triple damages:

https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/usao-edpa/legacy/2012/06/13/InternetWhistleblower%20update.pdf

Do you think that people like Tim Gregory aren't considering that?

Especially when it's first come, first serve? Of course they are.

If such a claim is pursued -- and it succeeds -- MCPB probably won't be 

able to pay. So any liability may fall on individual directors. Like it did

with MCTV. And they had Directors and Officers insurance. MCPB may

not. So add attorney fees to that figure.

You've seen Tim Gregory's temper. Imagine how he'll feel if he loses 

_his_ show? Or how the others will feel? They'll be left twisting in the

wind. With payback on their minds.

For anyone considering this, there are firms that work on contingency.

Meaning they work for a percentage. Like Phillips and Cohen:

http://www.phillipsandcohen.com/Qui-Tam-Whistleblowers/Whistleblower-FAQ-s.shtml

Everybody should have this information. Just in case.

Especially Tim Gregory.

Sincerely,

Scott M. Peterson

Mendocino

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>Tim,

In case it hasn't dawned on you, you represent not only yourself, but you represent KZYX/Z as a programmer.   You never heard those of us who sought for transparency in the last 2-3 years, speak this way about others.  It reflects on you and it reflects on the station.  

I hope the staff and board note your vulgar attacks on others in the KZYX community. You are a poor representative of KZYX/Z and you should be taken off the air immediately.   

Mary Massey

 		 	   		  
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